Korean Art Meet the World: RM x SFMOMA
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) has announced a groundbreaking exhibition, RM x SFMOMA, the first museum presentation to feature artworks from the personal collection of RM (Kim Namjoon) — the leader of global pop phenomenon BTS — curated by RM himself in collaboration with América Castillo and Hyoeun Kim of SFMOMA. The exhibition will run from October 2026 to February 2027, marking a historic moment as the museum’s first collaboration with a K-pop artist.
Chusa Kim Jeong-hui, Orchid Paintings and Writings, 19th century, Joseon dynasty; Collection of RM
Bringing together 200 works from RM’s private collection and SFMOMA’s holdings, RM x SFMOMA invites viewers to explore the interplay between Korean modernism and international contemporary art. Many of these works will be on public view for the first time, offering a rare glimpse into RM’s deeply personal yet globally attuned collecting vision.
“We live in an age defined by boundaries,” RM said. “This exhibition reflects those boundaries — between East and West, Korea and America, the modern and the contemporary, the personal and the universal. My only hope is that this exhibition can be a small but sturdy bridge for many.”
RM’s carefully assembled collection spans the work of key figures in Korean modern and contemporary art — including Yun Hyong-keun, Park Rehyun, Kwon Okyon, Kim Yun Shin, To Sangbong, and Chang Ucchin — alongside pieces by major Western artists such as Mark Rothko, Agnes Martin, Henri Matisse, Georgia O’Keeffe,and Paul Klee.
Yun Hyong-keun, Blue-Umber ’79-C6 (1979). Collection of RM; © Yun Seong-ryeol, courtesy PKM Gallery
At SFMOMA, these works will enter into dialogue with highlights from the museum’s own collection, including Kim Whanki’s luminous abstract paintings and modern masterpieces by Philip Guston, Giorgio Morandi, and Roni Horn, creating a cross-cultural conversation between artistic languages and histories.
“Visitors will have an unprecedented opportunity to explore RM’s beautiful and contemplative collection in dialogue with SFMOMA’s holdings,” said Janet Bishop, Thomas Weisel Family Chief Curator at SFMOMA. “It’s an invitation to make new discoveries and reflect on our own relationships with art.”
Kim Whanki, 26-I-70 (1970). San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, gift of Mrs. Whanki Kim; © Estate of Whanki Kim. Photo: Katherine Du Tiel
RM’s journey as a collector began in 2018 after a transformative visit to the Art Institute of Chicago, which sparked a deep and enduring passion for visual art. Since then, he has become an influential voice in Korea’s contemporary art scene, often referencing artists in his lyrics, album artwork, and interviews. His 2022 solo album Indigo paid tribute to painter Yun Hyong-keun, further demonstrating the profound link between his music and visual art.
Recognized for his thoughtful engagement with both sound and image, RM’s collaboration with SFMOMA represents a new chapter in his creative evolution — one that bridges pop culture and the global art world.
RM x SFMOMA is organized by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in partnership with BIGHIT MUSIC, HYBE, and HYBE INSIGHT.
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About SFMOMA
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary art in the United States. Its LEED Gold-certified building, designed by Snøhetta and Mario Botta, houses seven gallery floors and over 45,000 square feet of free, art-filled public space, making it a vibrant cultural hub for the Bay Area.
More:
https://www.sfmoma.org/press-release/rm-and-sfmoma-partner-on-first-exhibition-of-its-kind/